MIAGEN streamline planning process across Europe for SABMiller
Introduction:
SABMiller is one of the world's leading brewers with more than 200 beer brands and 70,000
employees in over 75 countries.
They have become a global leader by excelling locally - nurturing strong, local brands and
building brand portfolios that meet the needs of consumers in each of their markets. Their
portfolio includes premium international beers such as Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro,
Miller Genuine Draft and Grolsch, as well as leading local brands such as Águila, Castle, Miller
Lite, Snow, Tyskie and Victoria Bitter.
SABMiller have created leading positions in both emerging and developed markets across the
world. Their portfolio of businesses spans six regions. In 2013 they sold 242 million hectolitres
of lager and delivered revenues of US$34,487 million with earnings before interest, tax,
amortisation and exceptional items (EBITA) of US$6,421 million. They have grown through a
culture of operational excellence, delivering high quality products, innovation combined with
sustainable growth.
Challenges:
As with many enterprise size organisations who are growing both organically and through
acquisition, SABMiller found that using Excel as a planning tool was impractical, time
consuming and unsuitable for the tasks they demanded – they required a solution which
would be practical, intuitive and familiar to all users. They needed the ability to plan scenarios,
look at various drivers and the options open to them with the capability of outputting numbers
and reports quickly - almost at the touch of a button with confidence in the data being
provided.
‘We found Excel very difficult and unwieldy to get reports out of as we had outgrown its
functionality, we needed to produce a lot more information quickly and easily which Excel
was no longer capable of delivering or designed to do’ commented Tristan Philips, Regional
Finance Manager, SABMiller.
Solutions:
The SABMiller finance team reviewed a number of enterprise systems based on their
functionality, complexity, cost versus value which would integrate the planning process
across the business. They did not want a ‘black box’ solution but a transparent system
which the finance team would own and ultimately control allowing them to see what is
going on and with the ability to trace a number from end to end.
MIAGEN, Adaptive Planning’s EMEA partner presented to SABMiller’s finance team an
integrated Driver Based Planning and Forecasting solution which could be implemented
country by country. MIAGEN’s initial assignment was to understand exactly what SABMiller
wanted to accomplish along with their various and complex business needs.
‘MIAGEN presented the Adaptive Planning model which appealed to us, it was much more
finance focussed and transparent in terms of the information it could provide us with while
offering the functionality of some of its costlier competitors at a much more competitive price’
Tristan Philips, Regional Finance Manager, SABMiller.
Results:
The project covered 10 European countries each implemented according to their needs with
the end goal of having a centralised Budgeting and Planning system which will add significant
value on how the business reviews and plans in the future allowing for deeper analysis of
data and the ability to build scenarios.
One of the key benefits MIAGEN delivered to SABMiller is the automation and streamlining of
the planning process providing them ability to look at their business in many different ways
– by country, by market, by channel, by brand or by product. This has been achieved
through the integration of multiple spread sheets and by linking short with long term
budgeting and planning needs.
Through automating and streamlining the process SABMiller are now in a position to:
•
Run Gap analysis.
•
Analyse sales by individual brands and products (SKU’s) based on region, country,
channel, customer type and other variances.
•
Review and analyse sales budgets v’s actuals based on region, country, channel,
customer type and other variances
•
Analyse Gross Margin drilling down by country and by customer.
•
Produce flexible and user friendly reports on demand
‘SABMiller have complex budgeting and planning systems spread across Europe, Our
objective was to move everything from a local to a Group Driver Based Planning system
linking all of their processes – the Adaptive Planning model is perfect for their needs as it
allows functions such as marketing and sales analyse data by brand or product while finance
still maintain control and management of formulas and the overall system which will grow in
line with SABMiller’s needs and demands’ explained Teddy Murphy, CEO, MIAGEN.
Challenges:
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Unsuitability of Excel as a Planning tool as it is not practical and can be full of bugs
which are sometimes impossible to trace
Ability to plan scenarios while looking at the various drivers and scenarios
Streamline and produce reports quickly and easily at the touch of a button saving
considerable time and resources
Why Adaptive Planning?


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The system is user friendly and intuitive which everyone is comfortable with and can
adapt to easily.
The tool is priced very competitively when compared to other leading products
available on the market without compromising on quality or functionality.
The MIAGEN team demonstrated a good understanding and insight into SABMiller
resulting in a constructive and positive working relationship
Results
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Automation and streamlining of our complete financial budgeting and planning
process
Integrated Driver Based Planning and Forecasting process across all countries
Transparent system with the ability to trace all numbers from end to end
Analysis of data in many different ways: by region, country, channel, brand or
product (SKU)
Flexibility of reporting with on demand output, speed and ease of use
‘By working alongside MIAGEN we have automated and streamlined the planning process and
have seen positive changes in the attitude and mind-set of other functions towards finance’
Tristan Philips, Regional Finance Manager, SABMiller.
Corporate Headquarters
2041 Landings Drive
Mountain View, CA 94043 Telephone:
+1.800.303.6346
info@adaptiveplanning.com
Miagen UK Office
1 Kingdom Street,
Paddington
London W2 6BY
+44 207 868 8898
uksales@miagen.com
www.miagen.com